The New England Patriots drafting DII safety Kyle Dugger came as a surprise to many.
New England traded down from the No. 23 pick and used their first selection in the draft to grab a safety — one of the deepest groups on the team. The Patriots have Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Adrian Phillips and Terrence Brooks as players who could all start. Dugger is incredibly athletic and capable of producing at the next level, but he didn’t fill one of the holes the Patriots desperately needed filled.
It’s hard to argue the Patriots made the wrong move though — simply because Bill Belichick is the head coach. Belichick believes he found a hidden gem and he has the credibility to make that decision and not be questioned. Robert Kraft and Belichick’s phone call to Dugger when he was drafted shows the confidence they have in him.
“You’re our kind of guy,” Kraft repeated.
